Fact Check: Is video showing a US fighter jet evading Iranian missile real?
WASHINGTON, DC: As the tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei in a joint operation by the United States and Israel, a video has been circulating on social media platforms claiming to show an American fighter jet evading missiles in the sky, sparking doubts about its authenticity. Let us fact-check it.
Claim: Video claims to show US fighter jet evading Iranian missile
The viral video shows a fighter jet evading an anti-aircraft missile, shared with the claim that it is from the ongoing confrontation between the US and Iran.
The video originally shared on Facebook on March 1 came with a superimposed caption that reads, “When you are trained by the best! U.S. fighter jet pilot escapes Iranian missiles.”
The video has garnered millions of views, with many believing the clip to be authentic.
Fact Check: False, clip is from a digital flight simulator
However, a reverse image search of the video's keyframes traces it back to a December 24, 2025, Instagram post by the handle 'CreativeComparison.'
The account describes itself as a video game creator, and its bio states, “All scenes shown are from a digital flight simulator. No real aircraft or weapons involved.”
The original post was accompanied by a caption stating, 'V-8B Harrier II Dodges Every Osa AKM Missile in Action!', referring to the AV-8B Harrier II jet, which is an older aircraft used primarily by the US Marine Corps, which will officially retire in June 2026, the Marines announced in their Aviation Plan released on February 10, 2026.
United States prepares to intensify its assault on Iran
The video surfaced as the United States is preparing to intensify its assault on Iran.
President Donald Trump said that the bombardment is far from over. On Monday, March 2, Trump vowed to ramp up the strikes, warning, “The big one is coming.”
Trump said in a nine-minute phone interview with CNN on March 2 that US forces are hitting Iran hard, but even stronger attacks are still ahead.
Speaking to Jake Tapper, Trump said the military campaign is going 'very well' and called the US armed forces 'the greatest military in the world.'
Trump discussed how long the conflict could last, Iran’s retaliation, and what might come next for the country’s leadership. He said, "I don’t want to see it go on too long. I always thought it would be four weeks. And we’re a little ahead of schedule.”
